John Glenn

John Glenn (1921–2016) was an American Marine Corps aviator, test pilot, astronaut, and U.S. Senator. He became the first American to orbit Earth in 1962 aboard Friendship 7 as part of NASA’s Mercury program. After leaving NASA, Glenn entered politics and represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1974 to 1999. In 1998, he returned to space on Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest person to fly in space. Glenn also wrote about his life and public service, including the memoir *John Glenn: A Memoir*.